Focus.
Back in my undergraduate days as a music student, I can say I was focused.
I was required to practice two hours daily per instrument as a double major in piano and flute performance.
My practice routine, however, was ten hours per day. Six hours on the piano and four hours on the flute.
I wasn’t just focused; I was obsessed.
Years and two shoulder surgeries later, this hyper-focused obsession with over practicing took a significant toll on my upper body stamina.
Today, I make sure I take frequent breaks and regular stretching, working as I do at a computer both for my day job and for my writing pursuits.
If I fail to focus on taking care of my upper body, I pay the price with significant physical pain.
Finding the peaceful balance of the right amount of activity for my upper body was a learning process that required maturity and time.
What does this have to do with reminding us of our spiritual focus?
Reminders of What to Focus On
Peter’s first epistle is to Jesus’ followers in what we refer to as Asia Minor today.
He wrote them to encourage them because they were suffering persecution for their faith.
We pick up our study today after Peter has given practical advice on how Jesus’ followers should behave in relationships with governing authorities, employers, and spouses.
1 Peter 3:8-12
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind[1]
Reflect on the traits Peter encourages Jesus’ followers to have from the verse above.
Does unity of mind mean never disagreeing with someone spiritually? Why or why not?
Which of these traits listed above do you find the most difficult to live out with those you encounter throughout your day? Why do you struggle with these traits?
Take a moment to journal or pray about this with the Lord. Seek His guidance for what underlies your struggle and for Him to empower you to overcome.
9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.[2]
How is Peter’s instruction in the verse above about peace-seeking instead of peace-keeping?
Using Luke 23:32-34, how did Jesus show this mindset of peace-seeking?
10 For
“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” [3]
Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16 to support his instruction to his readers that Jesus’ followers are to seek peace rather than evil.
What is the benefit expressed for those who put into practice this instruction?
Keep in mind Peter is writing to encourage those under persecution for being a follower of Jesus. We should never take his instructions outside of this context to permit bullying or cruelty to continue in any relationship. Healthy boundaries are important in every relationship.
But if we are being persecuted because we follow Jesus, then we need to consider Jesus’ example as mentioned above in Luke 23:32-34 and Peter’s quoting of Psalm 34:12-16 for how we should respond.
Take a moment to journal or pray about any relationship in your life where you have resisted seeking and pursuing peace.
Consider these questions as starting points:
- Why have you resisted seeking and pursuing peace with this person?
- How have they harmed you in the past?
- Is it possible to forgive them as Jesus forgives you?
What other questions or thoughts come to your mind as you contemplate being a peace-seeker?
Resting and reflection are essential. Consider reading my post from last week, Sometimes I Need Rest, that talks about four areas we need rest: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Perhaps one of these areas of rest and reflection will give you fresh insight into how you can navigate that difficult relationship as a peace-seeker rather than from a defensive or antagonistic position.
Accept the Lord’s gentleness in healing your own heart before taking any new action in that relationship. Sometimes being a peace-seeker will mean remaining silent, while other times it might mean speaking up.
Remembering what to focus on when dealing with any relationship, especially considering our calling as Jesus’ followers, helps us avoid causing undo harm both to others and ourselves.
Changing What We Focus On
At the start of this post, I shared about my obsessive practice habit in my undergraduate days.
I ultimately caused my body physical harm with that hyper-focused obsession.
The time that I spent in practice rooms also meant I had little time for relationship building with others, let alone developing my relationship with God.
I claimed at the time to be a Jesus follower, but my habits revealed that my identity was wrapped up in being a musician foremost.
Anytime our identity gets attached to anything besides God/Jesus, we are at risk of injuring either ourselves or those around us. And it is a betrayal of our covenant of faith with God/Jesus.
Therefore, Peter reminds his readers in his epistle that their identity in Jesus Christ is essential to how they interact with others. How closely we focus on our relationship with God/Jesus should make a difference in how we conduct ourselves in every area of our lives.
Peter also knew that we can easily get distracted, especially when facing suffering of any kind. Whether we are suffering because of physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual pain, our natural response is to reduce that pain.
Peter’s focus in the passage above is suffering persecution because of one’s spiritual position of being a follower of Jesus. The remedy for this type of situation, as presented by Peter, is to become a peace-seeker.
What do you find most challenging about Peter’s encouragement to be a peace-seeker when faced with spiritual persecution?
How is Peter’s remedy counter cultural?
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son, Jesus Christ, as the ultimate example of a peace-seeker. He extended forgiveness to us even while he suffered on the cross on our behalf. Help us remember to keep our focus not on this world or our suffering, but on You and the future hope we have in living with You in eternity. Amen.
Here is a book to consider if you desire to dive deeper into the subject of being a peace-seeker:
The Peace Maker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande
What other books or passages in scripture have helped you be a peace-seeker?
Share in the comments below. The comment section remains open for fourteen days.
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Pe 3:8.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Pe 3:9.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Pe 3:10–12.
Barbara,
I always enjoy your Bible Study blogs, and I’m so thankful you are writing!
Focusing on promoting peace is so important and a real game changer for living our lives for Christ.
When it comes to unity, however, I believe we can only have true unity with other Christ followers.
Thanks for your thoughts Amy.